Martial arts legend, Chuck Norris, has had an incredible life — but he’s traded it all in, and the reason why is heartbreaking.
Chuck Norris has lived the most extraordinary life.
There isn’t much that Chuck hasn’t done… So where do we even begin?
He had humble beginnings.
Born as Carlos Ray Norris on March 10th, 1940, Chuck was bullied throughout his childhood as a consequence of his Native American ancestry, which spurred him to pick up the sport of martial arts aged eighteen.
His career is legendary.
Where he reigned as champion until his official retirement in 1974. But along the way, he defeated karate greats such as Allen Steen, Joe Lewis, Arnold Urquidez, and Louis Delgado.
He also has an enviable movie career.
Chuck starred in many epic action movies, including Breaker! Breaker!, Code of Silence, and the hugely successful television series, Missing in Action.
But it’s clear Chuck values his personal life above all else.
The actor suddenly retired from Hollywood, and it was for the most heartwarming reason.
And after revealing why, fans have been sending prayers to the icon.
Many took to social media to share their thoughts.
One Instagram user wrote: “No one knows what time you have left with your loved ones. So go for it Chuck Norris. Enjoy every moment and make beautiful memories together. God bless.”
A second wrote: “My prayers for ur wife u and your family. Hope all goes well. God bless u all. Keep the faith. I pray to God she’s doing okay. Your wife is lucky to have such a good man by her side. God bless and take care.”
“Chuck, I just wanted you to know that I will be praying for you and your sweet wife! I hope she is doing well and that you are too! It’s great to see you are as good a man as you appear to be!” a third commented.
“I wish you nothing but the best! Life long fan. You are loved. My family enjoys your projects. Stay well. – a friend,” another echoed.
Chuck had married the former model, Gena O’Kelly in 1998 and, when she became seriously ill, he decided to dedicate his life to caring for her.
He revealed that he needed to take time away from his career to be there for his wife.
He opened up back in 2017…
Speaking about his decision, he said: “I’ve given up my film career to concentrate on Gena, my whole life right now is about keeping her alive. I believe this issue is so important.”
But what actually happened?
Well, it all began when Gena underwent a series of MRI scans.
The 59-year-old suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, so the scans were done as a way for doctors to monitor her condition.
Gena was injected with dyes so that they could see the extent of her illness on the machine.
However, Chuck believes it’s these dyes that caused his wife’s heath to deteriorate shortly after.
As per the Mirror, Chuck said Gena was injected with the metal “gadolinium,” 3 times in 1 week.
“Within hours after the first jab, I felt like my whole body was on fire — as if acid had been passed through it,” Gena revealed.
“The burning was isolated at first, but it just kept spreading.”
After experiencing extreme pain Gena went back to the hospital, and was admitted a whopping 6 times.
Gena revealed that she started suffering from “excruciating rib pain, difficulties breathing, full-body tremors, muscle weakness, and joint pain.”
Due to doctors not knowing what to do, Gena Googled her symptoms and came across “gadolinium poisoning.”
Doctors quickly denied her theory.
They later informed her that the dye “is designed to be out of patients’ system safely within hours after injection.”
That’s when Chuck decided to do something about his wife’s symptoms.
He got in touch with a clinic in Nevada, and Gena was treated for gadolinium poisoning.
However, Gena had suffered a lot in the time it took to get help, she explained: “By the time I reached the clinic — weeks after I had the injections — I had lost 15lb and was finding it hard to swallow — I had to be fed baby food.”
“I just lay in bed on an IV for five months and had to have round-the-clock nursing care. Chuck slept beside me on the couch and never left. I prayed that I would live to raise my children.”
Now both Gena and Chuck Norris have dedicated their lives to spreading awareness of gadolinium and its possible side effects.
As per Hello!, Gena said: “It’s infuriating and heartbreaking — it’s a vicious, ugly secret that has been kept hidden — something Chuck and I are determined to change.”
As a result of the ordeal, the couple has sued eleven pharmaceutical companies for allowing the injections, and Gena is still battling with her symptoms.